UNITED NATIONS, Feb 3 (APP): More than 1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices such as smartphones and exposure to damaging levels of sound, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to devote International Ear Care Day tomorrow to “Making Listening Safe”.

Resolution of Gaza crisis key to achieving Mideast peace: UN envoy -

UNITED NATIONS, March 3 (APP): Peace in the Middle East hinges on resolving the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where reconstruction efforts are faltering and the blockade continues, the U.N.’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, Robert Serry, said Monday.

SANDAI CITY (Japan) March 2 (APP): The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Editor of Kahoku Shimpo Publishing Takada Shinichi said that Japanese media was enjoying complete freedom.

Obama to host Afghan president on March 24 -

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (APP): President Barack Obama will host Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer Abdullah, and key members of their unity government for meetings and a working lunch at the White House on March 24.

Women must be at the decision-making table at all levels: UN chief -

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28 (APP): The world must unite to end violence and discrimination against women and girls, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged at a high-level event in Chile on women and decision-making Friday, citing that progress over the past two decades has been made slow and uneven.

ISLAMABAD,
March 3 (APP): Olympian Mohammad Karim of Pakistan has beaten his
Indian opponent Mohammad Arif in the giant slalom event of Asian Alpine
Ski Championship 2015, being held in Yongpyong, South Korea.

KARACHI, April 22 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that the effective and sustained implementation of the National Health Policy 2010 would go a long way in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs).The National Health Policy incorporates key priorities such as family planning, maternal and child health, workforce development and meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, he said while speaking at the inauguration of the newly expanded and renovated Accident and Emergency Department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here.Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Parliamentarians, CM’s Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi, Sindh Chief Secretary Abdus Subhan Memon were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Gilani said that the
National Health Policy has been formulated on the basis of
recommendations by the Health Policy Task Force in consultation with all
key stakeholders. The Prime Minister said that the health sector has traditionally been a neglected area and it did not
receive the attention it rightfully deserved. The vast vacuum existing
between policy decision-making and operational levels impacted
adversely upon the delivery of health related services. The systematic flaws of our mixed
health infrastructure resulted in wastage of resources, duplication of
work and inability of health institutions responsible for spearheading
the reform agenda. The broader structural dimensions
such as decentralisation, efficiency, economical use of resources and
mechanisms of social protection were also ignored, he remarked. Prime Minister Gilani said that in
2008, he had ordered the establishment of a Health Policy Task Force to
design institutional response to the problems of the health sector. He announced an additional grant of
Rs 55 million for the remaining work of the on- going renovation and
expansion project of JPMC for taking this immense project to a logical
conclusion. He said the abolition of the
Concurrent List from the Constitution after the unanimous passage of the
18th Amendment and historic adoption of the National Finance Commission
(NFC) Award has empowered the provinces politically, administratively
and financially.Health and Education are now purely provincial subjects and it is for the provinces to rise to the occasion and make the difference through innovative methods of implementation of policies, the Prime Minister said. “I would like to urge the provinces
to focus on building their capacity for effective delivery of health
services at the grassroots level, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said. Quoting the Quaid-e-Azam’s message
at Eid-ul-Azha on October 24, 1947 the Prime Minister read “Let us
mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organised way and tackle
the grave issues that confront us with grim determination and discipline
worthy of a great nation.” Referring to the demand of JPMC
staff for maintaining the status of the hospital as an autonomous body
under the federal government, he said that he will ask the Chairman
Implementation Commission Senator Raza Rabbani to visit the federal
hospitals and discuss the issues with the Chief Minister, Governor and
the administration.He appreciated the efforts and
services of Executive Director JPMC Tasneem Ahsan and incharge of
Emergency Department Dr. Seemi Jamali for achieving the goal of making
the best and biggest A & E department in a public sector institution
in this country. He said the Hospital has lived up
to the expectations of people by responding to the health-related
challenges, which should be encouraging for the management and staff of
the JPMC. Of late, Karachi, the financial hub
of Pakistan, has witnessed the recurring incidents of terrorism and
terrible bomb blasts. The Hospital and its staff have commendably
responded to the challenge of tending to the injured and thus added a
glowing chapter of dedicated service, he said. “The people of Karachi
are rightfully proud of you,” Prime Minister Gilani said.